Teaching high school chemistry from theory to practice

Chemistry, as one of the branches of basic science, plays an important and fundamental role in the development of technology, industries, and daily lives of human beings. It is crystal clear that in order to acquire the necessary concepts and skills in various fields of chemistry, chemistry education should be carried out both theoretically and practically. There is consensus of opinions in accepting this issue, and almost all chemistry professors and teachers collectively agree on this matter. However, to what extent is the practical teaching of chemistry in high school realized in practice? In this short discussion, a brief look at the necessary mechanisms for teaching chemistry practically at high school level is discussed. From theoretical aspect, various topics such as chemical theories, atomic structure, chemical bonds, balances and chemical reactions, and acid-base concepts are taught. One procedure for successful teaching of chemistry theories at high schools is the use of chemical models, animation, 3D images, simulations of reactions and chemical concepts. Although the mentioned methods can be effective in conveying chemical concepts and easier understanding of chemical principles, they may not be sufficient by themselves. Since practical skills and experience play a very important role in understanding and consolidating theoretical concepts, it is necessary for students to be placed in a real laboratory environment and to do practical projects in addition to various other experiments. In addition to its many benefits in helping learning, taking a test boosts students' self-confidence. For example, students believe that they can synthesize or produce a substance. Moreover, it may motivate them to study and conduct more research regarding chemistry-related businesses.